I may or may not have strange grocery shopping habits. For example, I like to shop for groceries late at night, 9:30 - 10:00pm or early in the morning before work, 7:30 - 8:00am. There's something really enjoyable about being either among the first or last ones to shop. No one is pushing you around. You can take your time to browse, smelling and feeling the produce one at a time, with no one glaring over your shoulder to 'just get on with it' or making you feel bad for picking the last good-looking eggplant - sorry, I had a crush on it first.
Crowded shopping situations intimidate me. There's a certain bestiality that emanates from otherwise (at least I hope) sane and civilized people. After all, there are no fines for jamming your cart into someone's foot, or cutting in the line to the register. You would think it's common sense and decency not to do those things, but there are some people who have no shame (similarly to NYC subway).
Back to my grocery shopping habits... I like to go to my local store when I'm hungry. Usually, I'd stay away from shopping for food on an empty stomach - I always buy way more than I should. However, my local store ALWAYS has sampling. Cheese, guacamole, fresh baguette, catering specials, cookies - a feast! It's pretty convenient because I get to sample items I don't usually buy (or I'd eat all in one sitting - especially cheese).
Here are my favorite summer food shopping spots, in order of quality and importance:
Union Square Farmer's Market : Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 8AM-6PM
Union Market (Park Slope & Cobble Hill in Brooklyn)
Forager's (Dumbo in Brooklyn)
